POLITICO Playbook, presented by GE -- COLUMBUS DAY EDITION -- MARKETS OPEN: Will they tumble as D.C. dithers? -- JIM VANDEHEI named president and CEO of POLITICO and Capital New York

3 DAYS TO DEBT CEILING - SHUTDOWN DAY 14 ... THE NEW YORKER’s cover, “Haunted House,” depicts the U.S. Capitol as an unkempt, spooky graveyard, with headstones for “Gun Control” and “Health Care,” and a ghostly Speaker Boehner and Senator Cruz floating above the saggy iron gate. The artist, Mark Ulriksen, writes: “There are spider webs growing in the Capitol, bats haunting it, and all this legislation that’s just dying because these guys can’t do anything. The main sign of life is that black cat. If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be worth laughing at.” http://goo.gl/fEaXq9

--The Financial Times, in a p. 1 tease last week to a Gideon Rachman column, called this “America’s Gatsby moment: The careless politicians who smash things up.”

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--“Dimon voices his sense of foreboding” – Financial Times, box on p.1: “‘You don’t want to know,’ said Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the bank JPMorgan Chase, of the consequences of not reaching a deal in Washington, adding that panic in the markets would ensue. Mr Dimon was one of a stream of speakers pondering the potential financial and economic costs of the US crisis at the Institute of International Finance conference in Washington.”

--SPOTTED, at The Palm in D.C. on Friday night: Jamie Dimon!

THE BIG IDEA: The November issue of Esquire (cover story: “The Sexiest Woman Alive Is Scarlett Johansson”) also proclaims on its cover, albeit in smaller type: “THE NEW POLITICAL CENTER: IT’S BIGGER THAN WE THOUGHT – An Esquire/NBC News Poll.” On the “Before We Begin” page up front, the magazine explains the project: “Six months ago, Esquire conceived of a survey that would define a newly vibrant group in American politics: the center. … CHUCK TODD and BETSY FISCHER MARTIN were integral in every part of the poll … Although Esquire and NBC developed and parsed the New American Center Survey, the bipartisan team from Benenson Strategy Group [Joel Benenson, Obama’s pollster] and Public Opinion Strategies [Neil Newhouse, Romney’s pollster] actually made it happen, crafting the 140 questions and creating the segmented polling system that allowed 2,400 respondents to answer questions on a scale from 1 to 9 instead of with a simple yes or no.”

--THE FINDINGS are arrayed in a 12-page spread, “THE NEW AMERICAN CENTER,” by executive editor Mark Warren: “Everything we are told about politics in America today – that there is no middle ground between left and right, red and blue, us and them – is wrong. There is a large group of American voters – even a majority – who make up a new American center that is passionate, persuadable, and very real. They are merely waiting for Washington to find them. … [T]he center … is growing, and now actually constitutes approximately 51 percent of the electorate, spanning the full range of income and geography. … [T]he people of the center consider themselves to be … 36% independent, 36% Democrat, 28% Republican … 55% moderate, 25% conservative, 20% liberal … [T]hese Americans are up for grabs, but you’ve got to be substantive … Emanating strongly from this … data, … expressed in a dozen different ways: a demand for the classic American notion of fairness.” Posting soon: www.esquire.com

JIM VANDEHEI named president and CEO of POLITICO and Capital New York – BRIAN STELTER (fresh off his engagement) and LESLIE KAUFMAN break the news in today’s N.Y. Times: “Jim VandeHei, a co-founder of Politico who recently took charge of its new sibling Web site Capital New York, has a new title … chief executive. Robert Allbritton, the owner and publisher of both news sites, announced the appointment on Sunday in an internal memorandum that said that Mr. VandeHei would run the business operations of Politico, Capital and ‘hopefully some new ventures down the road.’ In a telephone interview, Mr. VandeHei, who until now held the title of Politico executive editor, said, ‘I really want to dedicate my energy and whatever talents I have to figuring out a profitable future for journalism.’ His longtime colleague John F. Harris will remain Politico’s editor in chief.

“The appointment reflects Mr. Allbritton’s decision to sell his set of local television stations and concentrate on digital media investments. In July he began the process … of selling the stations to the Sinclair Broadcast Group; in September he bought Capital New York, which covers Empire State politics and culture. Fred Ryan, who has been the chief executive of Mr. Allbritton’s television stations since 1995 and the chief executive of Politico since its founding in 2007, said last month that he would leave both posts once the television station transfer was complete … VandeHei said he felt that his journalism background (he previously wrote for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post) would give him an advantage in his new role. ‘At many media companies, the business and editorial sides are fairly clueless to how the other side works. I have been blessed to see it from both sides.’” http://goo.gl/gWalfr

--ROBERT ALLBRITTON memo to the staff: “We are on the verge of the most dynamic growth in our young history – and this demands an equally dynamic leader and thinker guiding us. This gives me the dream team with the perfect coaches: Jim leading our business and John Harris leading our journalism. … I plan on dedicating a portion of the proceeds of the TV sale‎ to POLITICO and new media ventures like it – and no one gets the business space better than Jim.‎ … Jim started here as an editor who just happened to have entrepreneurial instincts. He has grown into a strategic business thinker who just happens to have journalistic instincts. Those instincts helped create POLITICO, drive and shape our vertical strategy and cement the deal to purchase Capital New York. He has evolved into a very strong leader with a clear sense of what it takes to thrive in today’s media business. He and I are of one mind on the endless opportunities before us – and how to take advantage of them. …

“Jim and John share my vision for creating a first-class business and editorial culture and taking calculated risks during this period of upheaval and opportunity. We have a shared interest in placing new bets, while making sure our initial ones continue to pay off. While we will miss Jim’s daily input on the editorial side, I am very confident in this decision because John is the best editor-in-chief in journalism today and has smartly hired and promoted some brilliant talent in recent months to join our newsroom leadership team.”

--VANDEHEI memo to the staff: “We live in a world of constant disruption and in a city of unrelenting competition. … While others retrench, Robert invests. While others worry, Robert pounces. … Words cannot express my gratitude for Robert’s leadership, guidance and friendship over the years. … I am also lucky to continue soaking up the wisdom and guidance of our co-founder and outgoing CEO Fred Ryan. Fred has been a mentor, friend and hunting companion for seven unforgettable years. I will lean heavily on him during this transition and afterward, when he serves as a director for the company and lifelong member of the POLITICO family. …

“The editorial side of things could not be in better hands with Harris leading the journalism. He has put in place an awesome leadership team with talented POLITICO veterans like Danielle Jones and Bill Nichols, rising stars like Rachel Smolkin and Marty Kady and newcomers like Susan Glasser. … You will routinely hear not just from me, but also from the other essential members of our business leadership team, in particular, Roy Schwartz, the mastermind of our revenue strategy; Ryan Mannion, the brain behind our technological platforms and Kim Kingsley, the mastermind of, well, everything else. …

“It is not an accident that in the span of a few months we bought Capital New York, launched three Pro verticals, built a magazine and hired a long-form journalism staff. We have a clear sense of where we are headed. … [U]nlike many competitors, we are not selling myth. We sell reality: the reality that … ads are actually seen by the most important readers in the world and the stories … are essential, timely and spot-on accurate and fair. … [I]f we get complacent or distracted or slow, we will lose our edge. … We have no choice but to keep delivering the goods, better, faster and more efficiently. … There was a priceless quote in one of the early pieces about POLITICO in which Harris said my job was to pop the cork and let people know ‘we are going to take on the world,’ and his was to keep an eye on how much people are drinking and make sure no one got out of control. It captured nicely the essence of our partnership: We turn to each other to balance out our ambitions, personalities and skills.”

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STATE OF PLAY – “Senate remains at an impasse,” by Manu Raju and Seung Min Kim: “Reid and McConnell didn’t speak by phone until mid-Sunday afternoon, a call … characterized as ‘cordial but inconclusive.’ … ‘Our discussions were substantive, and we’ll continue those discussions,’ Reid said on the floor … ‘I’m optimistic about the prospects for a positive conclusion to the issues before this country today.’ Sen. Chuck Schumer … said [Reid and McConnell] were ‘moving closer’ … [Today] will be critical. With financial markets fearful of a prolonged impasse, there is little margin for error before Thursday, when the Treasury Department [says] the government [would] begin to run out of money … McConnell, who faces a tough reelection battle next year in Kentucky, is in a particularly tricky spot. If he accepts higher spending levels, he’ll be derided by conservatives for caving, and the plan could face a hostile reception from Speaker Boehner’s raucous Republican Conference. But if he can’t get a deal with Reid, Democrats will accuse him of helping perpetuate a damaging fiscal crisis.

“Republicans began to warn Sunday the White House and Reid were in danger of ‘overreaching’ themselves, arguing that Democrats were showing little willingness to make any concessions even as the GOP was eagerly looking for a way out of a crisis that has badly hurt its party. … Republican leaders are eager to lock in funding levels consistent with the automatic sequestration cuts enacted by the 2011 Budget Control Act, meaning government funding would be slashed to $967 billion after Jan. 15 … That number is far too low for many Democrats, including Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray, who is pushing for funding at $1.058 trillion, consistent with the Democratic budget blueprint adopted by the Senate earlier this year. Already, Reid has compromised on that number, agreeing to fund the government until mid-November at $986 billion, prompting major consternation among the left in his caucus. He refuses to go any lower or extend government funding at that level through January of next year, when an additional $21 billion would be cut because of the sequester.

“Reid’s deputy, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, suggested that a bipartisan accord could be reached between $986 billion and $1.058 trillion. ‘Clearly, we need to negotiate between those two — that’s roughly $70 billion,’ Durbin said just off the Senate floor. … Republicans said they didn’t believe McConnell … would agree to spending above the $967 billion level that is slated to kick in during January. … Reid is still pushing for a yearlong debt ceiling hike … But Durbin suggested that a compromise could raise the … borrowing limit until March or April. Durbin scoffed at a six-week debt ceiling increase proposed by House Republicans because, he said, it would hurt consumer confidence ahead of the holidays.” http://goo.gl/F7DHh6

--SCRIPT for the SENATORS: “Hi, this is [name,] calling on behalf of the Republican National Committee. SENATOR (XX) and Senate Democrats think this shutdown is a game. They are playing politics by cutting off our veterans and their benefits. In a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives wanted to make sure our veterans got the benefits they earned for fighting for our freedoms. But, SENATOR (XX) won’t negotiate. These men and women served our country with honor and yet SENATOR (XX) would rather put partisan politics ahead of honoring our commitment to the people who defended this country. Call SENATOR (XX) at xxx-xxx-xxxx and tell him/her to stand up for veterans and demand a vote in the Senate.”

--SCRIPT for REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: “Hi, this is [name,] calling on behalf of the Republican National Committee. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz thinks this shutdown is a game. She voted to cut off Florida’s veterans and their benefits while the government is shut down. In a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives wanted to make sure our veterans got the benefits they earned fighting for our freedoms. These men and women served our country with honor, but Debbie Wasserman Schultz would rather put partisan politics ahead of honoring our commitment to the people who defended this country. Call Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz at xxx and tell her our veterans deserve their benefits.”

ENGAGED! Brian Stelter, who covers television and digital media for the N.Y. Times (and wrote the juicy “Top of the Morning,” about the network morning shows), and Jamie Shupak, traffic anchor for NY1. The two celebrated upstate this weekend, Instagramming from Catskill, N.Y. @BrianStelter: “I resisted the urge to propose on Twitter. @JamieShupak woulda been mortified. But she did say it was okay to reserve @JamieStelter!” … @JamieShupak: “Naturally, @brianstelter hired a photographer to capture the proposal without me knowing. ?” Instagram screengrab of Brian on one knee, and Jamie covering her eyeshttp://goo.gl/0P7HES

THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, which has a 126-year lineage (and 46 years with that nameplate), tomorrow becomes the International New York Times (INYT). The IHT’s final front pages: Asia Edition http://goo.gl/lU3jIw … Europe Editionhttp://goo.gl/1k1toH ... Country-by-country circulationbreakdownhttp://goo.gl/NIsU9Z

--CLICK DU JOUR: An engrossing “Turning the Page” retrospective features a slide show of 50+ front pages, from the first edition of The New York Herald’s European Edition (founded by James Gordon Bennett Jr. in Paris on Oct. 4, 1887) … through “Archduke Francis Ferdinand And His Consort, The Duchess of Hohenberg, Are Assassinated While Driving Through Streets Of Sarajevo, Bosnia,” “NIXON QUITS” and “After 45 Years, Germany Is One Again” … to “BIN LADEN’S BLOODY END” in 2011. A prototype “TimesMachine” lets you navigate through virtual versions of the full hard-copy papers. http://goo.gl/XhgHrh

--JILL ABRAMSON, executive editor of The Times, discusses the global expansion in an interview with Ed Pilkinton of The Guardian, who writes: “[T]he rebranding is the culmination of a long-held ambition to create what she calls the ‘24-hour global newsroom.’ … We are sitting in Abramson's office just off the famed New York Times newsroom floor. It is a theatrically cluttered space full of her varied knickknacks, including cushions embroidered with images of her beloved dogs, a DVD of a BBC docudrama on Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and, quizzically, a book titled ‘The Married Kama Sutra.’ … I ask her what she has been most proud of during the infancy of her editorship [25 months], and she cites the investigative reporting that has been done on global issues such as the rise of ‘princeling’ families in China, Apple's labour practices and the textile business of Bangladesh.” http://goo.gl/TT70PI

2016 WATCH – “Ted Cruz wins Values Voter Summit straw poll,” by Adam Sneed: “Sen. Ted Cruz won the Values Voter Summit’s presidential straw poll … with a plurality of votes against big-name conservatives in the mix for 2016. The Texas senator pulled in 42 percent of the votes cast at the annual conference for social conservatives. In second place with 13 percent was Dr. Ben Carson, the conservative commentator and neurosurgeon who drew widespread media coverage for comparing Obamacare to slavery in his speech at the summit. Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum nearly tied Carson. Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Paul Ryan trailed Santorum, each pulling in single-digit percentages.”

BUSINESS BURST – N.Y. Times p. B5, “ADVERTISING: P.R. Agency Begins a Push to Modernize,” by Stuart Elliott: “Burson-Marsteller in New York, part of the Young & Rubicam Group division of WPP, plans to introduce on Monday an initiative to position itself as ‘Committed to Being More’ — and yes, the matching initials between Burson-Marsteller and ‘Being More’ are no coincidence. … The initiative includes … a series of meetings of thought leaders, under the rubric of the Burson-Marsteller Conversations; revamping the employee training program; forming a worldwide strategic leadership team; hiring additional senior managers; [and ]introducing a ‘reverse mentoring’ program in which younger employees mentor their elders in digital and social media …

“‘We’re using “Being More” as a catalyst for what we do, modernizing what we’re all about,’ said Donald A. Baer, worldwide chairman and chief executive at Burson-Marsteller … Fred Humphries, vice president for United States government affairs at the Washington office of Microsoft, … praised events the agency developed for Microsoft that were centered on the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions and the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. …

“[N]ew people at Burson-Marsteller … include Steve Lombardo, formerly global chief executive at Strategy One, who joined as United States public affairs and crisis chairman, based in Washington; Thomas Gensemer, formerly managing partner and chief executive at Blue State Digital, part of WPP, who joined as United States chief strategy officer, based in New York; and Jennifer Maguire Isham, formerly president of the Tribeca Film Festival, who joined as worldwide strategic adviser, based in Washington. Ms. Isham is also being named as the initial member of the new worldwide strategic leadership team.” http://goo.gl/IjwE1j

COMING ATTRACTIONS --- “Four City Mayors Educational Tour Kicks Off … Rising Stars Highlight Solutions that Have Worked in Their Cities”: “[T]he mayors of four major U.S. cities who are embracing innovative, unique education programs are launching the first-ever Mayors for Educational Excellence Tour (MEET). … The first stop features a series of meetings on the campus of one of the schools in Denver experiencing a significant turnaround, as well as a town hall with administrators, parents and education stakeholders, and other public events highlighting Denver’s education achievements. [The mayors are:] Michael Hancock of Denver … Angel Taveras of Providence … Kevin Johnson of Sacramento … [and] Julian Castro of San Antonio. … The mayors will continue to highlight fresh policies and programs at each of the stops in Sacramento, Providence and San Antonio. Over the course of the next several months, MEET and the Mayors hope to be the voice and start of nationwide change in public schools.”

--WashPost A1, “Cowboys take down the Redskins [31-16]; Washington now 1-4”

--FINAL DRIVE! “Vintage Brady: No timeouts, clock ticking down, Tom Tremendous rallies Patriots past Saints,” by AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman in Foxborough, Mass.: “With Gillette Stadium nearly half-empty, the fans figuring the New England Patriots had thrown away their last chance, Tom Brady delivered a drive to savor … [While he was beating the Saints, the fans were beating the traffic. A big roar went up from those who remained.] Taking over at his 30 with 73 seconds remaining, no timeouts left and the Patriots trailing the unbeaten New Orleans Saints 27-23, here is how … Brady rallied … to a 30-27 win: First-and-10 at Patriots 30, 1:13 left - Brady … hits Julian Edelman deep over the middle for 23 yards. … First-and-10 at Saints 47, :53 - Brady and the Patriots hurry to the line, he throws over the middle to Austin Collie for 15 yards. … First-and-10 at Saints 32, :39 - Brady knows he has time, is confident to work inside, completes to Aaron Dobson for 6 yards. … Second-and-4 at Saints 26, :35 - Brady throws incomplete deep down the middle to Edelman. The miss gives New England a moment to regroup. …

“Third-and-4 at Saints 26, :30 - Brady again looks for Edelman, but the veteran receiver drops the ball inside the 5. Now the Patriots are down to a final chance to keep the drive going. … Fourth-and-4 at Saints 26, :24 - Brady comes through, hits Collie on the left side for 9 yards. The Saints tackle him inbounds, the clock keeps running. … First-and-10 at Saints 17, :11 - Brady quickly puts the Patriots in position and spikes the ball, stopping the clock. … Second-and-10 at Saints 17, :10 - Brady looks every bit a three-time Super Bowl champion, hitting rookie Kenbrell Thompkins high over the outstretched arms of defensive back Jabari Greer in the left corner of the end zone with 5 seconds left. It is Brady's 342nd career TD pass and the 37th time he's led the Patriots to victory from a fourth-quarter deficit or tie.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL – “Ballot Breakdown: Stanford falls, SEC sets record,” by AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo: “Breaking down The Associated Press college football poll after Week 7 of the regular season. SHAKE-UP SATURDAY: The first preseason national championship contender has been upset. … Now that the season has reached the midway point, it seems the title chase has truly begun. The first shake-up of the season produced significant changes to The Associated Press college football poll Sunday. The top four teams remained unchanged: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Ohio State. But Stanford, which had been top-five all season, lost 27-20 at Utah and dropped eight spots to No. 13. The Cardinal's Pac-12 and national title hopes took a serious hit, though they'll be able to get right back in the conversation next week by beating No. 9 UCLA at home. And there's still that big game against Oregon on Nov. 7. …

“[GIBBS ALERT:] Auburn moved into the rankings for the first time this season at No. 24, giving SEC fans yet another thing to boast about. The SEC is the first conference to have eight ranked teams during the regular season. The SEC held the record, along with the ACC and Big Ten, of seven ranked teams … The Tigers' rise was not well received among the many fans who have had it up to here with the SEC, winner of the last seven BCS championships. Auburn's 5-1 record … doesn't look all that much better than Nebraska's, Michigan State's or Oregon State’s … But the SEC has earned the benefit of the doubt and Gus Malzahn's rebuilding Tigers were the beneficiary this week. They go to No. 7 Texas A&M next week, so it could be a short stay. No. 25 Wisconsin is back in the rankings to keep Ohio State from being the only Big Ten team. … Michigan dropped out of the Top 25 for the first time this season” after losing 43-40 in quadruple overtime at Penn State. Sorry, Lukey.

POOL REPORT from the wedding of Alexandra Veitch and Chris Mewett, last night at the Hendry House in Arlington. After the downpour of the last few days, the clouds parted for friends and family who had traveled from as far as Canada, England and Australia. The reception kicked off with a Texas two-step. That was followed by Hill Country BBQ, in honor of the groom's home state; Graeter's ice cream, from the bride's hometown of Cincinnati; and a bourbon tasting bar. SPOTTED: Kristie Greco, Catlin O'Neill, Karina Newton, James Gleeson, Kelly Berens Gleeson, Carlos Sanchez, Allie Neil, and Dana Edwards Manatos and Tom Manatos.

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Authors:

About The Author

Mike Allen is the chief White House correspondent for POLITICO. He comes to us from Time magazine where he was their White House correspondent. Prior to that, Allen spent six years at The Washington Post, where he covered President Bush's first term, Capitol Hill, campaign finance, and the Bush, Gore and Bradley campaigns of 2000. Before turning to national politics, he covered schools and local governments in rural counties outside Fredericksburg, Va., for The Free Lance-Star, then wrote about Doug Wilder, Oliver North, Chuck Robb and the Bobbitts for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where he nurtured police sources on overnight ride-alongs through housing projects. Allen also covered Mayor Giuliani, the Connecticut statehouse and the wacky rich of Greenwich for The New York Times. Before moving to The Times, he did stints in the Richmond and Alexandria bureaus of The Washington Post. Allen grew up in Orange County, Calif., and has a B.A. from Washington and Lee University, where he majored in politics and journalism.